When a train derails the result is usually extremely costly in terms of damage to vehicles, track and infrastructure. In addition there is the resulting disruption to services, the potential hazard to surrounding areas and the potential contamination of the environment, not to mention injury/loss of life to staff, customers and third parties. This paper will examine the effect that vehicles and track each have, as they interact as a system, and how their conditions influence derailment risk. Such conditions are governed by track and vehicle parameters and hence owners, maintainers and operators in each sphere need to be aware of those factors, which are within their control, that can have a significant influence on derailment risk. Such an approach is essential if the whole range of companies involved in the various aspects of railway operations are to collaboratively reduce the number of derailments.
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